Obama To Attend Memorial Service For Victims Of West, Texas, Explosion

Smoke rises as water is sprayed at the burning remains of a fertilizer plant after an explosion at the plant in the town of West, Texas, near Waco.

Photo: Reuters

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are expected to attend a memorial service Thursday for those killed in the West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion last week.

The Obamas will head to the memorial service at Baylor University in Waco after attending the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, according to White House press secretary Jay Carney.

Obama will also be in Texas on Wednesday for a Democratic fundraiser in Dallas, Reuters reports.

Fourteen people were killed in the fire and resulting explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. plant, including 10 first responders, according to the Associated Press. More than 200 people were injured in the blasts. The cause of the fire and explosion is still unknown.

A 50-unit apartment complex was destroyed in the blast along with 50 homes; a nursing home was damaged, according to Reuters.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry toured the disaster area on Friday.

"No doubt, there is a lot of work that lies ahead, and the road to recovery is long. But this community will come together, this community will mourn, and this community will rebuild,” he said in a statement.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has put so much time and determination into caring for their fellow Texans over the past two days," the governor said. "Whether they worked triage the night of the explosion, pulled extra shifts at area hospitals or just took one of their displaced neighbors into their home, they are the heart and soul of the Texas tradition of "neighbor helping neighbor."